Business & TechSome Concerns Raised Over Proposed Chick-Fil-A Proposal In MilfordThe popular restaurant chain's application with the city was addressed at a Planning and Zoning Board meeting this week.Chick Fil A is planning to open a Milford store. (Scott Anderson/Patch)MILFORD, CT — The ever-popular chain Chick-fil-A is seeking to add a Milford location. Documents filed with the city show the fast-food restaurant is applying to open a 1357 Boston Post Road store.The restaurant at the Milford Crossing plaz ...

Core Insights - A new Mediterranean-style restaurant named Fresh & Green Plate has opened in downtown Bristol, focusing on healthy and customizable food options [5][6][9]. Company Overview - Fresh & Green Plate opened on July 14, 2023, at 118 Main St, Bristol, in a newly renovated space that previously housed a café [5][6]. - The restaurant is owned by Miledy Marmol, who has other business ventures in the health industry, including the Golden Adult Day Center [9][10]. Menu and Offerings - The menu features customizable salads and gyros, allowing customers to choose bases like greens or quinoa, proteins such as chicken, beef, or lamb, and various toppings and dressings [7]. - Specialty dressings are made from scratch, with unique names like "Avocado Green Goddess" and "Pomegranate Balsamic" [7]. - Additional offerings include fresh hummus with flavors like roasted red pepper and a signature green hummus, along with rotisserie chicken and daily soups [7]. Health Focus - The restaurant emphasizes healthy, organic, natural, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and locally-sourced options [9]. - Owner Miledy Marmol believes in providing food that is both delicious and nutritious, aiming to promote healthy eating in the community [10][11]. Operational Details - Current operating hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the restaurant closed on Saturdays [11].

Core Insights - Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy conducted a pizza review at Caloroso Eatery & Bar in Shelton, Connecticut, awarding it a score of 7.6 out of 10 [6][8] - The review highlighted the restaurant's atmosphere and the quality of the pizza, which Portnoy described as "almost like a gigantic bar pie; nice and thin" [7][6] - Caloroso's owner expressed gratitude for the review and emphasized the restaurant's diverse menu and community support [10][9] Company Overview - Caloroso Eatery & Bar is a popular Italian restaurant located in Shelton, Connecticut, known for its gas-fired pizzas and wood-fired pies [4][10] - The restaurant has a capacity of 300 seats across three floors and offers a large off-premise catering business [10] - The establishment prides itself on making food from scratch, including bread, meatballs, and burgers, and has a strong commitment to community support [10] Industry Context - Portnoy's pizza reviews have gained significant traction on social media, leading to increased customer traffic for the restaurants he features [12] - The "One Bite Pizza Reviews" series began in 2017 and has expanded to include pizzerias across the globe, with a notable focus on Connecticut recently [11][12] - The reviews are influential in the pizza industry, as a favorable score can lead to a surge in customers for the reviewed establishments [12]

Core Insights - McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is focusing on the high-margin beverage category to boost traffic and average check size globally [1] - The company plans to test an expanded beverage lineup in U.S. restaurants later this year, leveraging insights from its CosMc's pilot concept [1][4] - Management identified beverages, beef, and chicken as core growth pillars, supported by a new organizational structure with dedicated category leaders [2][10] Beverage Market Strategy - Insights from CosMc's indicate that 80% of customers prefer preset beverage recipes with minor customization, reducing operational complexity concerns [3][10] - McDonald's sees significant potential in the beverage segment, particularly in cold beverages, energy drinks, and customizable options, currently capturing about 10% of the U.S. coffee market [4] - The company is optimistic about integrating learnings from CosMc's into its core restaurants to drive growth [4] Competitive Landscape - McDonald's faces increasing competition in the premium beverage category from established players like Starbucks and Dutch Bros [5] - Starbucks dominates the U.S. specialty beverage market, with cold beverages making up over 75% of total drink sales, leveraging personalization and mobile ordering [6] - Dutch Bros reported a 10% year-over-year increase in same-shop sales and a 29% rise in total revenues, focusing on speed and customer connection [7] Financial Performance - McDonald's shares have decreased by 4% over the past three months, while the industry has grown by 4.5% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.86, significantly higher than the industry's 4.02 [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McDonald's earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 4.5% for 2025 and 7.8% for 2026, with recent upward revisions [13]

Group 1: Bloomin' Brands - Bloomin' Brands is facing challenges such as weak comparable store growth and rising costs, exacerbated by the divestiture of its Brazilian holding as part of a long-term repositioning strategy [3][4] - The company is focusing on core operations, simplifying the menu, improving efficiencies through technology investments, and implementing a value-oriented marketing campaign [4] - Despite business contraction, the dividend yield stands at 6.27% with a recent annual dividend of $0.60, and the payout ratio is notably high at -2,000% [3][4] Group 2: Flowers Foods - Flowers Foods is transitioning from traditional baked goods to healthier options, supported by strategic acquisitions to enhance its good-for-you portfolio [8][9] - The company has a dividend yield of 6.34% with an annual dividend of $0.99 and a payout ratio of 91.67%, indicating sustainability due to strong cash flow and a healthy balance sheet [8][9] - Institutional ownership is significant, with approximately 75% of shares held by institutions, and they have been actively buying in recent quarters [10] Group 3: Haverty Furniture Company - Haverty Furniture Company is experiencing sluggish home sales and consumer pullback, leading to eight consecutive quarters of revenue contraction, although growth is expected to resume in the latter half of 2025 [13][14] - The dividend yield is 6.16% with an annual dividend of $1.28, but the payout ratio is concerning at 101.59%, indicating higher risk [12][13] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with no debt and a total liability of slightly more than one times equity, providing a robust financial position [15]

Core Viewpoint - Noodles & Company will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 6, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. ET [1] Group 1: Conference Call Details - The conference call can be accessed live by dialing 201-389-0920, with a replay available until August 13, 2025, by dialing 412-317-6671 using passcode 13754231 [2] - The conference call will also be webcast live on the company's corporate website under the "Events & Presentations" page, with an archive available shortly after the call [3] Group 2: Company Overview - Noodles & Company has been serving a variety of noodle dishes since 1995, with over 450 restaurants and 7,000 team members dedicated to providing quality food and service [4]

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco”) (NASDAQ: LOCO) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Hosting the call will be Liz Williams, Chief Executive Officer, and Ira Fils, Chief Financial Officer. A press release with second quarter 2025 financial results will be issued that same day, shortly after the market close. The conference ...

Group 1 - The investor has 15 years of experience in financial services, focusing on macro trends and identifying undervalued sectors such as metals, gold, and cryptocurrency [1] - The investor has a strong educational background with a BS in Finance and an MBA, and has worked in both New York and North Carolina [1] - The investor emphasizes the importance of diligent saving and investing, having transitioned from a middle-class background to co-managing a seven-figure investment account [2] Group 2 - The investor maintains an updated portfolio that includes a variety of funds, stocks, and sectors, which is shared with followers [3] - Key investments include broad market ETFs like DIA, VOO, QQQM, and sector-specific funds such as XLE and VPU, along with alternatives like Bitcoin and gold [3] - The investor contributes to the CEF/ETF Income Laboratory, focusing on managed income portfolios targeting approximately 8% yields, appealing to both active and passive investors [3]

Core Insights - The health-conscious trend in the food and beverage industry is a significant and growing movement, influencing various aspects from ingredients to preparation methods [1][2] - The demand for healthier dining options can be categorized into three levels: basic food safety, advanced dietary structure, and precise nutritional needs for fitness enthusiasts [2][10] - The light meal market in China is projected to exceed 320 billion yuan by 2024, with a growth rate of 41.7%, indicating a strong consumer shift towards healthier eating [2][3] Industry Trends - The emergence of a more mainstream light meal segment, driven by diverse health food demands, is creating new opportunities for brands like "Super Bowl Foodbowl," which focuses on affordable, Chinese-style light meals [3][6] - Super Bowl has successfully expanded its offerings and customer base, achieving over 100 stores in five cities within ten years, with a focus on fresh, flavorful, and healthy options [3][6] - The increasing consumer focus on food safety is reshaping the restaurant industry, with brands needing to adapt to higher standards of hygiene and transparency [7][9] Consumer Behavior - The health food market is expanding beyond fitness enthusiasts to include a broader demographic, particularly the elderly and children, who are increasingly seeking nutritious meal options [11][12] - The demand for healthy meals often spikes during specific periods, such as post-holiday or pre-summer, indicating a "pulse" in consumer behavior towards health-conscious eating [11] - Super Bowl's model of offering customizable, healthy meals has resonated well with consumers, leading to a high repurchase rate of over 60% [3][9] Competitive Landscape - The competition in the healthy dining sector is intensifying, with traditional fast-food chains like KFC and Subway entering the light meal market, indicating a shift in consumer preferences [6][21] - Super Bowl's strategic focus on local flavors and affordable pricing has positioned it well against competitors, while also addressing the historical challenges of high prices and low repeat purchases in the light meal sector [20][21] - The overall restaurant industry remains fragmented, with a low chain penetration rate, allowing for significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the healthy dining segment [7][8]

Hey, I'm Kramer. Welcome to Mad Money. Welcome to Kramer.I'll be my friends. I'm just trying to make you a little money. It's my job not just to entertain but to educate, teach it.Call me 1800743 CBC tweet me Kramer. Maybe you hate Jal. Maybe you love him. Maybe you have no idea who he is.Regardless, what you need to know is that he's in charge of the Federal Reserve. So he controls what's known as short rates. That means the short-term interest rates there are are like the ones you borrow today and pay you ...